Official HALO 2 thread

Halo 2 Scores

• Gamespot - 9.4
  
• IGN - 9.8
  
• Team Xbox - 9.9
  
• Famitsu Xbox - 37/40
• Famitsu - 34/40
• OXM US - 9.7/10
• OXM UK - 9.9
• EGM - 10, 10, 10
• XBGamers - 9.8
• Game Informer - 10

>>>Halo 2 on Game Rankings<<<

The reviews have begun!  First up is Famitsu Xbox

October 29, 2004 - Halo 2 is seeing a near simultaneous release worldwide -- a big improvement from the original where gamers in Japan were forced to wait over half a year for the greatness of Bungee\'s landmark first person shooter. A Japanese release means Japanese reviews, and today we spotted the first one on the pages of Famitsu Xbox, Japan\'s largest (and only) Xbox exclusive magazine.

In an issue that included reviews for two Japanese titles, Dead or Alive Ultimate (10, 9, 9, 8) an Fatal Frame 2 (8, 7, 8, 9), Halo 2 was given the most favorable rating of the month with a 10, 9, 9 and 9.

The magazine\'s editor-in-chief scored the game a ten and had this to say: "The battles are totally intense. It\'s been a while since I\'ve forgotten about sleep and food to this extent while playing a game." We\'ll skip the bit about the campaign mode in order continue the trend of avoiding spoilers, but the review finishes off with "Xbox users who play this will be truly happy. Seriously."

And those punks who gave the game a 9? Well, they didn\'t really have anything bad to say about the title, although some admitted to not being big on first person shooters. One reviewer, admitting his distaste for the genre, added, "A game that\'s well put together is of course fun," and "This is too fun!".

As posted in this public service announcement from earlier in the week, IGN\'s Halo 2 review will go live at noon PST on November 7. Turn back then to see the opinion of IGNXbox\'s editor in chief, Douglass Cool Perry.

>>>Link<<<

:cool:

famitsu gave halo 1 a 33/40

If you add up the scores Halo got a 37/40.

Japan admits to liking a FPS?  They have to be still just a novelty there.  Surprised it didn\'t score lower.

The score above was from Xbox Famitsu.

Regular ol\' Famitsu just gave HALO 2 a 34/40.

By the way, can we change the topic title and just make this the new "Official HALO 2 thread"? Reduce clutter \'n\' such.

Let\'s start throwing around Gamertags, guys. HALO 2 hits in less than a week, and I\'d like to play with some of you if you have LIVE or plan on getting it for HALO 2.

I\'d play you guys in Halo 2, but I refuse to pay for Xbox live.  So I\'ll just have to settle for traditional multiplayer.

I don\'t care what you guys say, I\'ve never had a problem with Sony\'s FREE online play, and that for me is a standard that microsoft should meet.  I\'m sorry, no Xbox Live for me.

Nu, it\'s fine with me to change the title.  I\'ll pm a mod...

Originally posted by Nu
The score above was from Xbox Famitsu.

Regular ol\' Famitsu just gave HALO 2 a 34/40.

By the way, can we change the topic title and just make this the new "Official HALO 2 thread"? Reduce clutter \'n\' such.

Let\'s start throwing around Gamertags, guys. HALO 2 hits in less than a week, and I\'d like to play with some of you if you have LIVE or plan on getting it for HALO 2.

can PAL gamers play NTSC ones and vice versa on LIVE?

Dont have an xbox yet but if H2 is good i may buy one

Xbox Live cost is pittance if you have a job ($5/mo) and people who have both PS2\'s and MS\'s service say they prefer Live.  They have a 3-month starter kit now if you want to test it.

Only thing I\'m worried about is playing with a whiny figgot and I have to hear them over the headset.

Let me tell you already, it does get old hearing half the people talk.  The headset already works when playing thru xbconnect.  Luckily I win so it\'s not much of an issue.

Xbox Live cost is pittance if you have a job ($5/mo)

yeah.. but i already pay 39.99 to my ISP for internet, and i already bought the game 49$(+). i dont need to add another service, that actually does nothing to prevent cheats, save game exploit or bandwith stability.

i dont need to pay my games X% more because the developers need to give money to MS to include the "live logo on the box" and i dont want to pay X% more on my games because the developer need to buy MS license code to build their live features.

At least, on PS, when the game is live you know you paid x% more on the game because the developer took time to write is code and build up is online server.

I played Everquest 5 years, paid 12$ a month (9$ at some point) and if MS or Sony service would be similar, i probably wouldnt mind paying.

MS is offering nothing more then what you have in the PC world or PSx.. but you pay 5$ fror it.

ilovebees.com pinpoints Halo 2 events.

Underneath her goodbye letter is an invitation to "Combat Training Exercises." "I have arranged a special training exercise for crewmembers (and friends! and whomever!) 17 and older, utilizing squad-oriented combat simulation LIVEware, for Thursday, Nov. 4, from 6:00 – 9:00 pm Pacific time," read the message. These events will occur at four locations: 570 2nd Ave, New York City; 601 N. Martingale, Schaumburg, IL; 2700 W. Anderson Lane, Village Shopping Center, Austin, TX, and 101 4th St, San Francisco, CA.

What do those four locations have in common? Each has a movie theater (or theaters): Bay Cinema in New York City; Loews Woodfield Theatres in Schaumburg, a suburb of Chicago; the Sony Metreon in San Francisco, home of a Loews theater multiplex; and the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin.

And what will happen at these locations on November 4?

An update from Microsoft this morning has provided detailed intel on what gamers can expect. Calling it "a culmination to the Halo 2 I Love Bees program," a Microsoft spokesperson told GameSpot that “Bee Keepers” will be "guided to four locations across the country for a special event."

"Upon arrival," we were told, "the Bee Keepers will find their way to a theater where they will receive a special commemorative DVD (and a collector’s lanyard) as well as a special chapter of the ILB game specifically created for the event."

Microsoft said those in attendance "will have a chance to be among the first in the world to have hands-on play with the final version of Halo 2 multiplayer."

The spokesperson added that all four theaters will be equipped with Xbox consoles, which will be linked via Xbox Live to one another.

The event is scheduled for this Thursday night from 9pm to midnight EST, and 6pm to 9pm PST.

>>>Link<<<

They\'re having one in Austin!

Originally posted by The Hurricane
I\'d play you guys in Halo 2, but I refuse to pay for Xbox live.  So I\'ll just have to settle for traditional multiplayer.

I don\'t care what you guys say, I\'ve never had a problem with Sony\'s FREE online play, and that for me is a standard that microsoft should meet.  I\'m sorry, no Xbox Live for me.

Although it might have all the features that Live has, I would imagine you will be able to play Halo2 on Xbconnect, which is free.

Just a suggestion for those of you who choose not to purchase Live.

HALO 2 runs smooth as butter on XBC too. Almost zero lag, and no leading... And that\'s with voice chat.

So true, we normally host but when chatting with the guys in the room they say it runs with relatively no lag.  Can\'t go anywhere but up on live, gotta love that.